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fuck who ever reads this
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Coenocorypha
| image = Snipegodwitbuller2.jpg
| image_caption = ''C. aucklandica'' (left)
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Charadriiformes]]
| familia = [[Scolopacidae]]
| genus = ''''' Coenocorypha '''''
| genus_authority = [[George Robert Gray|Gray]], 1855
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''see text''
}}
The '''''Coenocorypha''''' are a [[genus]] of tiny [[bird]]s, also known as the '''New Zealand snipes''', which are found in the [[New Zealand Outlying Islands|Outlying Islands of New Zealand]]. There are currently two widely accepted extant [[species]], two [[extinct]] species and several [[subspecies]], but the [[taxonomy]] of the genus is currently under debate and these subspecies have been raised to full species by some authors. One as yet undescribed species or subspecies was discovered off [[Campbell Island, New Zealand|Campbell Island]] as recently as 1997. The genus once ranged from [[Fiji]] and [[New Caledonia]], across [[New Zealand]] and down into New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands, but predation by [[introduced species]] has drastically declined their range.
==Taxonomy and range==
The relationship between the New Zealand snipe and the [[snipe]] of the genus ''[[Gallinago]]'' is uncertain; the ''Coenocorypha'' are sometimes thought to be a relict of an ancient lineage,<ref>Tennyson, A. & Martinson, P. (2006) ''Extinct Birds of New Zealand'' Te Papa Press,Wellington ISBN 978-0-909010-21-8</ref> however insufficient research has been done to prove this. The first specimen, was collected from the [[Auckland Islands]] during the voyage of the [[HMS Erebus (1826)|Erberus]] and [[HMS Terror (1813)|Terror]] and was described by [[George Gray]] in 1845. Ten years later he assigned the species to its own genus. With the exception of the [[Chatham Island Snipe]] and the [[Forbes's Snipe]] (described from [[fossil]]s found in the [[Chatham Islands]]), all subsequent New Zealand snipe collected were assigned as subspecies to the original species, known as the [[New Zealand Snipe]]. Subspecific forms were described from the [[The Snares|Snares]], [[Little Barrier Island]], [[Stewart Island]] and the [[Antipodes Islands]].
A morphological study and comparisons of [[plumage]] and behaviour led some authors to accept that the [[Snares Islands]], [[Little Barrier Island]], [[Stewart Island]] were all species instead of subspecies of the [[Auckland Island]] form and raised the possibility that the [[Antipodes Island]] form might be a separate species.<ref>Worthy, T. H., Miskelly, C. M. & Ching, B. A. (2002) "Taxonomy of North and South Island snipe (Aves : Scolopacidae : ''Coenocorypha''), with analysis of a remarkable collection of snipe bones from Greymouth, New Zealand" ''New Zealand Journal of Zoology'' '''29'''(3):231-244</ref>
In 1997 a previously unknown form of New Zealand snipe was discovered on Jaquemart Island off [[Campbell Island, New Zealand|Campbell Island]].<ref>Barker D, Carroll J, Edmonds H, Fraser J, and Miskelly C (2005) "Discovery of a previously unknown Coenocorypha snipe in the Campbell Island group, New Zealand subantarctic" ''Notornis'' '''52'''(3): 143–149 [http://www.notornis.org.nz/new_issues/Notornis_52-2005/Notornis_52_3_143.pdf]</ref> The Campbell Island Snipe has yet to be formally described scientifically but is considered to be another species in the radiation of New Zealand snipes. Fossil remains of ''Coenocorypha'' have also now been discovered on the islands of [[New Caledonia]], [[Fiji]] and [[Norfolk Island]].<ref>Worthy T.H. (2003) "A New extinct species of snipe ''Coenocorypha'' from Viti Levu, Fiji" ''Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club'' '''123''': 90-103</ref> Fossil evidence has also shown that the Little Barrier Island form was once widespread across [[North Island]] and the Stewart Island form across [[South Island]]; both species are now extinct.
==Morphology==
The ''Coenocorypha'' snipes resemble ''[[Gallinago]]'' snipes, although they much smaller, stockier and have shorter [[beak|bill]]s.<ref> Higgins, P.J. & J.N. Davies (eds) 1996. ''Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 3: Snipe to Pigeons. '' Oxford University Press, Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553070-5</ref> Overall they have long bills and short necks, wings and tails. They measure between 19-24 cm long, with wingspans of between 28-35 cm, and weigh between 75-120 g. The smallest species is the Chatham Island Snipe. Their [[plumage]] is overall brown, most species have a dark eye stripe. The scapulars on the wings are mottled with some species having white tips.
==Breeding==
The breeding biology of some of the ''Coenocorypha'' snipes has been studied in some detail. They are mostly [[monogamous]] (although occasionally some males attempt polygamy) and defend [[Territory (animal)|territories]] from other breeding pairs, although non-breeders are tolerated inside territories. Pair formation occurs some months before breeding, and males feed females as part of the courting rituals.<ref name = "Miskelly1989">Miskelly, C (1989) "Breeding systems of the New Zealand Snipe ''Coenocorypha aucklandica'' and the Chatham Island Snipe ''Coenocorypha pusilla''; are they food limited?" ''Ibis'' '''132''' 366-379</ref> Before breeding New Zealand snipe also participate in aerial displays with [[Bird song|calls]] followed by a non-vocal roar created by diving birds driving fast moving air across the rectrices of the tail.<ref>Miskelly, C. M. (1987): The identity of the hakawai. ''Notornis'' '''34'''(2): 95-116. [http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_34-1987/Notornis_34_2.pdf PDF fulltext]</ref> This display is thought to be the origin of the [[Māori]] legends about the or ''hakawai''; the calls are known to scientists by that name as well. The usual clutch size is two [[egg (biology)|eggs]], laid three days apart. Incubation duties are shared between the sexes, incubation taking 22 days. Where a male has two females in its territory it will incubate at just one nest, the female at the other has to incubate alone, taking 38 days to hatch chicks.
After hatching the pair splits, with each member if the pair taking one chick and raising it. Chicks are fed for around 41 days, and stay with the parent for another 20 days after that. The chicks [[Chatham Island Snipe]] matures faster than the other species and is only fed for thirty days and becomes independent at 41 days. Parental care in the [[extinct]] [[South Island Snipe]] is also thought to have been different, with studies conducted in 1923 and 1930 showing that both parents cared for a single chick.<ref>Miskelly, C & de Lange, P (2006) "Notes on the breeding ecology of the extinct Stewart Island snipe (''Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei'')" ''Notornis'' '''53'''(4): 339–352</ref> Nothing is known about the parental care of the [[North Island Snipe]], the [[Forbes's Snipe]] or the snipes of [[Fiji]], [[New Caledonia]] or [[Norfolk Island]].
==Threats and conservation==
The ''Coenocorypha'' snipes [[evolution|evolved]] on oceanic islands without land [[mammal]]s and were [[island tameness|ecologically naive]] to mammalian predators. When humans arrived on the islands they lived on they brought with them [[Polynesian Rat]]s and later larger more aggressive predators such as [[Black Rat]]s, [[Stoat]]s and [[feral cat]]s. With the arrival of these predators Coenocorypha snipes quickly became [[extinct]], with the species in Fiji, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island becoming extinct in prehistory. Around New Zealand snipes survived on rarely visited offshore islands and on the sub-Antarctic islands. The North Island species survived until the arrival of European settlers, and the last South Island Snipe survived off [[Stewart Island]] until 1964, when rats reached Big South Cape Island. The island had also been the last refuge of the [[Bush Wren]] and the [[New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat]]. Attempts were made to capture some snipe (and wrens) for translocation to a safe island, but only two snipe were caught and both died the next day.
Today the remaining species are a conservation priority. Techniques to translocate snipe without killing them have been developed, and a small group of [[Snares Island Snipe]] have been established again off Stewart Island. <ref>Charteris M & Miskelly C (2005) ''Snares Island snipe (tutukiwi) translocation to Putauhinu Island, April 2005'' DEpartment of Conservation, Wellington ISBN 0-478-22687-X [http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/conservation/native-animals/birds/snares-snipe-putauhinu.pdf PDF]</ref> Campbell Island Snipe have benefited from the [[island restoration|removal]] of rats from Campbell Island in 2001; they have recolonised the main island from Jacquemart Island and begun breeding there again.<ref>Miskelly C & Fraser J. (2006) Campbell Island snipe (''Coenocorypha'' undescribed sp.) recolonise subantarctic Campbell Island following Rat eradication." ''Notornis'' '''53'''(4): 353-359</ref>
==Species==
*[[Chatham Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha pusilla''
*[[New Zealand Snipe|Auckland Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha (aucklandica) aucklandica''
*[[North Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha (aucklandica) barrierensis''
*[[Snares Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha (aucklandica) huegeli''
*[[South Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha (aucklandica) iredalei''
*[[Antipodes Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha (aucklandica) meinertzhagenae''
*[[Forbes's Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha chathamica''
*[[Campbell Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha'' sp
*[[Viti Levu Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha miratropica''
*[[New Caledonia Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha'' sp.
*[[Norfolk Island Snipe]] ''Coenocorypha'' sp.
==Notes and references==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>
[[Category:Birds of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Genera of birds]]
[[Category:Scolopacidae]]
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